The issue is: Have the authorities properly looked after the mechanism of prosperity and not only retained the best scientists but attracted further talent from overseas?
This concluding remark by Dr F B (Brian) Shorland1 in his Presidential Address in 1955, reported in the media [1] as well as in New Zealand Science Review [2], was the issue that occupied a prominent part of the Association’s activities over most of the next twenty years. Time and time again, representations were made to Government and officials about the need to provide competitive salaries and working conditions for New Zealand’s scientific workforce.